Charles Hodgson of Mulvane, a Kansan of foreign birth, came to this state in 1874 and in the intervening years has become one of its most substantial citizens and a contributor in a material way to the upbuilding of this great commonwealth. He owes his nativity to England and was born in Baildon, Yorkshire, Feb. 13, 1840, to John and Betty (Bently) Hodgson, the former of whom was a weaver by trade, employed in the woolen mills near his home. Both parents spent their entire lives in England where the mother died on Feb. 28, 1876, and was survived by the father until Sept. 16, 1882, when he, too, passed away. Their union was blessed with thirteen children, three sons and ten daughters, as follows: Mary, Charles, Marcy, Hudson, Mariah, Mary II, Charlotte, Tamor, William and Samuel. Three children not named died in infancy and all are now deceased except Charles, Hudson, Mariah and John, all of whom are living in America except Hudson. Mr. Hodgson was educated in the public schools of England. He has been married twice. He was first united to Miss Sarah Hill, who died in England, leaving two children—Samuel and Polly. In 1866 he came to America and after one year's residence at Lawrence, Mass., he located at Savanna, Ill., where he remained seven years and where he married on May 23, 1869, Miss Susan Malin, a daughter of Jesse and Margaret Malin. Mr. Malin was a farmer by vocation. His wife died in Illinois in 1859 and later he came to Kansas, where his death occurred on a farm near Mulvane in 1887. Four children were born to his second marriage, two of whom died in infancy, Charles Wells, when twenty days old, and Gertrude at the age of five months. The other two children were: Bettie May, born March 28, 1870, who died April 9, 1898; and Anna L., born in December, 1871, who is now the wife of David Lappin, of Mulvane, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson have an adopted daughter, Bessie Elena, born Feb. 21, 1891, who accompanied them on a visit to England in 1908, it being the second return of Mr. Hodgson to his native land since he left it in 1866.

In 1872 Mr. Hodgson brought his family from Illinois to Kansas and located in Sumner county where he preëmpted a quarter section of government land, his farm being the northwest quarter of section 1, which is the northwest section in Sumner county. In 1886 he left the farm and removed, to Mulvane, where he has served as postmaster continuously since 1898. In the meantime he had held various local offices such as township trustee, member of the school board and city clerk. He is a stanch Republican in his political allegiance and takes a lively interest in the work of his party. Fraternally he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been an active worker in his lodge for fifty years. His religious views are those of the Presbyterian denomination, with which he associates as a member and as an elder. He was commissioned to represent the Mulvane church in the National General Assembly of the Presbyterian churches held at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1904 and accepted the charge. He has prospered in his business career and has acquired extensive property interests. He takes an active interest in and lends his support to all movements for the public welfare of his community, and has so lived as to deserve and receive the unreserved esteem of his fellow citizens.